White Rhinoceros

Scientific Name : Ceratotherum simum

Second in size only to the African elephant, the white rhino is an animal of open country. In spite of its name, it does not differ from the black rhino in its skin colour, and the names are misleading. Like its smaller cousin, the colour of the white rhino’s skin is determined by the soil of a particular region, as the animals roll in mud and dust. It is in the shape of the mouth that the two differ so markedly, and this also determines their diet. The broad, flat mouth of the white rhino is designed to crop big mouthfuls of grass. Adult females live in overlapping home ranges and are often accompanied by their most recent offspring. They also tend to associate with other females and groups of a dozen or more may gather. Males are much less sociable and occupy well patrolled territories with numerous conspicuous dung middens. Females and young add their own dung to a male’s midden, but do not engage in the male’s ritual of spreading and urine spraying. Rhino calves remain with their mother for two to three years, by which time she may be ready to deliver another calf. Interestingly, the juvenile white rhino always runs ahead of its mother, whereas the black rhino youngster runs ahead. This is thought to be a result of differing habitats, as the open country in which white rhinos live allows the juvenile to lead the way, while its mother wards off any threat from behind. Adult rhinos have no enemies other than man, but lion and spotted hyena may prey on calves. White rhinoceros were close to extinction at the start of the 20th century due to excessive hunting. Only 30 or so individuals survived when South Africa’s Umfolozi Game Reserve was created in 1897, but effective conservation allowed their population to recover strongly, especially since the 1960s when translocations to other protected areas were perfected. The northern race of the white rhino remains, however, on the brink of extinction.